Today's humiliation

The disciples of Yinjian Mountain watched across the waterway as the distant teahouse gradually quieted down.

"The one leading them was young, but he certainly didn't hesitate to kill."

"His saber technique was fierce. He must have spent twenty years honing it..."

"We've been in the Capital City so long. How have we never heard of someone like him?"

The disciples who focused on martial training spoke in admiration.

Beside them, however, the disciples who focused on Daoist cultivation shook their heads one after another.

"He has little affinity with the Dao. Just a worldly martial artist."

"How could someone like that pursue the great Dao of immortality?"

"It's a shame about that face, though. If he cultivated the Dao, who knows how many sisters would find their worldly desires stirred?"

Amid the discussion, a girl of thirteen or fourteen carrying a fly whisk slowly approached within seven feet of Zhou Yitang.

"Master, all the senior and junior sisters are talking about that man."

She was Zhou Yitang's Daoist attendant, Lu Ying, and the only person among them who could call Zhou Yitang "Master." She asked playfully:

"Were you watching him too, Master?"

She hadn't expected an affirmative answer, or even any answer at all.

Who in the martial world didn't know that Zhou Jianjia generally drew her sword rather than spoke?

As always, her master would say nothing, merely letting her fool around before finally shaking her head helplessly.

That was what Lu Ying thought.

Then she went on chattering to herself:

"He may be skilled, but his saber kills while our swords save lives. He's naturally at odds with our Yinjian Mountain..."

Her words broke off there, because Lu Ying heard her voice.

"Mm."

The Daoist priestess nodded slightly.

"Mm... huh?"

Lu Ying froze, as though she had seen fire in water.

She blinked, her lips slightly parted, filled with shock and astonishment.

"M-Master... is he an exceptional martial genius, one of those rare talents? Or has everyone else misjudged him, and he actually has a profound affinity with the Dao? Has he unwittingly slain the Three Corpses and Nine Worms...?"

Lu Ying knew there was indeed something striking about him, both his martial skill and his looks. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sparked so much discussion in the teahouse. But for even her master to take an interest in him was truly staggering. What exactly had caught her eye?

Across the broad waterway and its deep green ripples, the priestess gazed into the distance from the teahouse and said softly:

"He's lost weight."

Lu Ying was first astonished, then bewildered.

Had her master come to the capital early and waited day after day just to say something so inexplicable?

While the senior and junior sisters of Yinjian Mountain discussed his affinity with the Dao, his martial skill, and even his looks, all she said was, "He's lost weight"?

As though facing a formidable enemy, Lu Ying cautiously glanced at her master's expression.

The look in those cool eyes was complicated.

There was deep hatred, but also a trace of... tender affection.

[Conditions met. Grudge Yin-Yang Art activated.]

[Grudge Yin-Yang Art, beginner level: thirty percent of two hundred and ten years of foreign True Qi can be absorbed, yielding seventy years of True Qi. Min Ning's negative emotions reward you with five years of True Qi.]

Chen Yi looked at the negative emotions, then gazed greedily at Min Ning.

Finally, he dismounted of his own accord and slowly walked toward the courtyard.

Watching her subordinate's retreating figure, Min Ning sat on her horse like a wooden statue, unable to move for a long time. At last, she clenched her fists so tightly that she drew blood.

The bleeding in her palms brought Min Ning back to her senses. She nearly ground her teeth to pieces.

No wonder...

No wonder he didn't make a move on my sister...

So that was it... so that was it!

Min Ning pressed her hand to her saber hilt, desperate to take that man's head off with a single stroke.

After a long while, her regard for chivalry still made her lower her saber. She turned her head away and silently smeared the blood onto her face.

She would remember today's humiliation!

Back in the courtyard, Chen Yi washed his hands beside the water vat and glanced at the panel.

[True Qi remaining: eighty-seven years.]

Looking at all that True Qi, Chen Yi examined the martial arts he knew.

[Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique (proficient), Fragment of the Star-Absorbing Great Method (beginner), Eagle-Fall Art (not yet learned).]

Aside from the Yin-Yang Art, those were the three martial arts he currently possessed.

By his reckoning, if he perfected all of them, he would only need a defensive technique to become virtually invincible in the early stages.

With that thought, Chen Yi unhesitatingly poured True Qi into the Eagle-Fall Art and Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique.

As for the Great Star-Absorbing Art, after nearly exploding to death this time, Chen Yi had no intention of advancing it too quickly.

His meridians couldn't withstand so much foreign True Qi. He would wait until he obtained miraculous pills and medicines at the Prayer Daoist Grounds.

A good saber technique could cut through iron like mud, while a good movement art, trained to its utmost, could let one pass through a sea of flowers without a single petal touching them. No matter how strong an opponent was, even if they could lift a massive cauldron, if they couldn't land a hit, they could only be worn down to death.

[You channel in the True Qi you painstakingly cultivated. Every word and sentence of the techniques flows through your meridians with the True Qi.]

[Your mind begins independently working through the Eagle-Fall Art and Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique.]

[For ten years, you observe eagles descending, investigating things to gain understanding. An eagle waits for its opportunity before moving, striking straight for the kill. To your surprise, you discover that the Eagle-Fall Art's waiting for an opportunity and the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique's keeping the hidden dragon in reserve secretly align and complement one another. Combined, they would form an excellent offensive method.]

[By the twenty-third year, thanks to the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique, your comprehension of the Eagle-Fall Art advances with half the effort. Your movements shift like an eagle's, ready at any moment to gather momentum and strike straight for an opponent's life.]

[In the twenty-sixth year, you try to advance further, approaching the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique through the Eagle-Fall Art. This idea actually grants you an epiphany about both.]

[Eagle-Fall Art (perfected)] [Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique (perfected)]

[In the thirty-seventh year, you inadvertently combine the Eagle-Fall Art and Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique. Inspired, you realize that martial arts complement one another. The two techniques actually merge into one. You wait for an opportunity to strike, taking lives as easily as retrieving something from your pocket!]

[You record this new technique and name it the Sea-Overturning Saber Technique.]

The combination of the two martial arts brought Chen Yi quite a few pleasant surprises.

In Beyond the Heavens, there were many complementary martial arts and a network of combination paths as vast as an old tree's roots. Most combinations, however, only began triggering in the middle and later stages.

On this second playthrough, Chen Yi had vaguely recognized the compatibility between the Eagle-Fall Art and Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique, but he truly hadn't expected the two techniques to combine this early.

[True Qi remaining: fifty years.]

Looking at the fifty years of True Qi listed there, Chen Yi hesitated.

Should I condense it into True Essence or save it for now?

After some thought, Chen Yi decided to keep it in reserve for the moment.

Condensing one unit of True Essence required a full thirty years of True Qi!

He might not get to open so many chests next time.

Besides, a supreme-grade technique like the Grudge Yin-Yang Art required five units of True Essence to reach minor attainment. Condensing just one would do no good.

Advancing the Grudge Yin-Yang Art demanded an enormous investment of resources, but its returns were equally generous. After minor attainment, the Yin-Yang Art would become a true dual-cultivation method, yielding more than just True Qi.

Chen Yi pushed open the door and suddenly saw a petite figure pressed beside it. As the door swung open, she hastily backed away.

"Oh, were you eavesdropping?"

Chen Yi asked.

Apparently, she had heard everything he and Min Ning had just said.

Yin Tingxue didn't answer, merely nodding dazedly, her eyes wide.

So... this man didn't take me as his concubine for my body...

That's... that's... wonderful!

No wonder he didn't immediately...

She kept thinking about it, her heart filled with relief and a trace of delight showing at the corners of her eyes.

Although she hadn't heard clearly at the time, she had caught those few key words.

When Yin Tingxue came to her senses, she found Chen Yi staring at her.

His gaze pierced straight into her heart like a silver needle, and somewhere deep within it, there seemed to be a hint of mockery that Yin Tingxue couldn't quite make out.

Chen Yi slowly withdrew his gaze and strode inside.

"Bring some water."

Chen Yi said.

"W-What for?"

Yin Tingxue felt a little flustered.

"To wash my feet."

Chen Yi patted her cheek and mocked, "A foot-washing maid washes feet."

Yin Tingxue clenched her teeth, the tips of her ears reddening.

Had anyone at the Xiang Prince's Residence ever addressed her like that? It had always been maids washing her feet and obeying her every word. She understood that this man was doing everything he could to humiliate her.

In the end, she resolved to endure it for now and said as evenly as she could, "Please wait, Master."

Chen Yi had caught every bit of the delight that had appeared at the corners of the Xiang Prince's Daughter's eyes earlier.

This little fox seemed to harbor some unrealistic fantasies.

Once the Grudge Yin-Yang Art reaches minor attainment...

When that time comes...

Chen Yi very much wanted to see the Xiang Prince's Daughter's terrified expression.

Whatever else happened, he would have to give her a rude awakening then.

Yin Tingxue clearly had never washed anyone's feet. Perhaps she had never even washed her own. Chen Yi thought that she must have enjoyed every service her maids could offer in the prince's residence and had no idea how to serve others.

Even so, merely touching a man's feet made her ears redden.

She steeled herself and finished washing them. Chen Yi could see her fine hairs trembling.

After having his feet washed, Chen Yi put on his boots and headed to the kitchen. Although Yin Tingxue was now his concubine and could manage something as simple as washing feet, how could she cook for him? She would probably end up covered in soot and burn down the kitchen without producing a meal.

Before transmigrating, Chen Yi had occasionally returned to the countryside to visit and knew how to use a rural earthen stove, so cooking wasn't a problem.

He cooked some cured meat and pickled vegetables, added two bowls of white rice, and brought everything out. Yin Tingxue was already hungry, but even so, she didn't wolf it down. Her chopsticks merely moved a little faster.

After lunch, Chen Yi went out.

It was already evening when he returned from the Western Depot.

Chen Yi returned carrying a food box filled with fine dishes, including a small pot of snow fungus soup. Yin Tingxue enjoyed it without ceremony. Having once been a prince's daughter, she didn't know to decline now that she was a maid. After finishing, she didn't offer even a word of thanks, merely covering her mouth for a small burp. After dinner, it was late, and she grew sleepy, occasionally nodding off in her chair.

Chen Yi led her to the bedroom.

Once in the bedroom, as she slowly climbed onto the bed, she suddenly jolted.

Yin Tingxue turned back and looked at him tremblingly.

Chen Yi took off his outer robe, leaving only his inner clothes.

"Y-You... what are you going to do?"

Yin Tingxue asked through clenched teeth.

"What else? Sleep. There's only one bed here."

Chen Yi said with a smile.

She really does look pitiful.

Gripping her waist from behind, Chen Yi tried to force her down onto the bed.

Yin Tingxue wanted to struggle and kicked her leg, but at the sight of Chen Yi's stern gaze, she immediately went limp. Trembling, she clenched her pearly teeth and reluctantly but obediently climbed onto the bed.

"There are still guest rooms... and yesterday, didn't you sleep on the floor yesterday? I know... you're a martial artist. There's nothing wrong with sleeping on the floor. Perhaps you could even practice your martial arts..."

She stole a glance at him and, seemingly afraid of angering him, cautiously tried to persuade him:

"What's so good about sharing a bed with me? I move around and kick off the covers... Master, you should sleep on the floor. It'll benefit your cultivation. Only those who endure the bitterest hardships can rise above others... Or I could sleep on the floor, if you give me a quilt..."

She rambled on. Kneeling on the bed, she let her black hair slip onto the bedding, her skirt hanging beneath the dim yellow lamplight and outlining the curve of her tender buttocks. His enemy wanted to get off the bed, pushing backward with her knees and unconsciously sticking her bottom up in the process, without realizing it.

Smack!

"Ah! Why did you hit me? Why did you hit me there?!"

Her face bloodred, Yin Tingxue covered her bottom and looked at Chen Yi aggrievedly.

Chen Yi rubbed his hands together, savoring the sensation. How could this enemy, who once severed my meridians and wiped out my family, be so pitiful and alluring?

She feared him, terribly. Her rambling attempts at persuasion contained nothing but shame and fear.

Chen Yi moved closer, lay down on the bed, and said coldly:

"Go to sleep. Stop talking so much."

With that, Chen Yi put his arms around her.

"Y-You..."

Held in his arms, Yin Tingxue was unbearably embarrassed, her eyes reddening with anger, full of grievance and resentment. She struggled, shrinking toward the innermost edge of the bed.

Chen Yi felt the girl's frightened struggles, but swept her into his arms and held her even tighter.

Seeing that she still wanted to struggle, Chen Yi said sinisterly:

"Go ahead and keep shrinking away. If I decide you're not doing a good job as a concubine, you know what I'll do."

Yin Tingxue stiffened. She gave Chen Yi a pitiful look and let out a low, plaintive sound, then, at his prompting, tremblingly nestled into his arms.

She said aggrievedly, "Don't do this... I'll be good."

Listening to her clumsy words of submission, Chen Yi held her tenderly. He wanted to say something affectionate, but decided against it.

She trembled uneasily, her eyes red, tears silently streaming down like the Milky Way at night.

Chen Yi held her a little tighter, and she grew a little more obedient, pressing her forehead to his chest and slowly falling asleep in her misery.

The memory of his meridians being severed that day still gave Chen Yi faint phantom pains.

Even so, looking at his enemy's sleeping face and faintly furrowed brow, Chen Yi still reached out to smooth it.

The Eastern Depot.

In the tearoom, a figure in a crimson python robe sat upright at the table and leisurely lifted a tea bowl. Emerald-green bud tips floated slightly upward, and the fragrance of tea filled the room.

"This Green Waves Dragon Well certainly lives up to its reputation."

Xue Youge, brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and superintendent of the Eastern Depot, lowered his lips to the bowl and took a light sip.

The window stood half open, offering a view of the bustling streets in the distance. The Eastern Depot stood outside the imperial palace, on the avenue leading to Donghua Gate, while the Western Depot stood right beside Donghua Gate.

The Western Depot was closer to the palace than the Eastern Depot, but both were near Donghua Gate.

"Superintendent, not one of those Demonic Cult members boarded the boat."

Li Hundred Household delivered his report with his head bowed.

In the shrill, high-pitched voice of a eunuch, Xue Youge said unhurriedly:

"Understood."

Li Hundred Household continued:

"For some reason, Chen Zunming, that Hundred Household from the Western Depot, suddenly turned on them. All sixteen lost their heads. He didn't leave a single survivor."

As he spoke, a little cold sweat broke out on Li Hundred Household's forehead.

Xue Youge frowned and asked in puzzlement:

"Hadn't the Demonic Cult already made arrangements with this Hundred Household Chen?"

"He's notorious for taking bribes, perverting the law, and abusing his office for personal gain. Why was he so... upright and incorruptible this time?"

Li Hundred Household ventured quietly:

"Superintendent, could it be... they didn't offer enough money, an argument broke out on the spot, and he drew his blade and killed them in a fit of anger?"

Xue Youge narrowed his eyes and said:

"That's possible.

"Still, we'd best give him a warning."

Li Hundred Household understood at once and said:

"Superintendent, do you mean to... submit an impeachment against him?

"I heard he took a maid away from the Xiang Prince's Residence.

"But he is one of Grand Secretary Lin's men."

Xue Youge merely smiled at Li Hundred Household's slight apprehension.

"Have you forgotten? I'm one of Grand Secretary Lin's men too. Why should I be wary?"

Xue Youge said mildly:

"I'll enter the palace tomorrow."

"How many years has his Western Depot even been established? A mere three.

"A Hundred Household thinks he can undermine the Eastern Depot's rules? Give him a warning. Make him understand that if the Eastern Depot gets ruthless, it really won't take much effort to finish him off."